NFL Free Agency: Could Woodson sign with Bengals?

The following is a free agency primer for the three NFL teams of major interest in the Media Network of Central Ohio’s coverage area. It also offers franchise considerations heading into free agency, which begins at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

: The Bengals have built a promising young team by drafting well and re-signing their players. Maintaining depth could be their biggest challenge. Bringing in a veteran backup to push quarterback Andy Dalton also has been floated as an option that might benefit the team. This club’s biggest obstacle in 2014 likely will be trying to sustain its success while breaking in new offensive and defensive coordinators.

• Our advice:

Johnson is a nice player but didn’t warrant the franchise tag again. If owner Mike Brown adheres to his philosophy, expect Cincinnati to allot its cap space into new contracts for Dalton and WR A.J. Green. Someone like Josh McCown might be the right guy to keep Dalton’s progress ticking upward. The defense could use one more veteran leader with a winning pedigree. Our suggestion — defensive back Charles Woodson.

With 10 draft picks and plenty of salary cap space — even more than expected after the release of LB D’Qwell Jackson — the Browns are well equipped to further improve a roster that produced six Pro Bowlers in 2013, although Mack and Ward no longer are under contract. Solving the perennial quarterback issue seems to be the major obstacle to success in Cleveland, but the draft will have to provide an answer under center given the dearth of quality passers on the market. Although trading RB Trent Richardson in 2013 appears to have been a wise move, the run game needs fresh legs.

• Our advice:

If this offseason has proved anything, there’s no telling what will happen in Cleveland. But the Browns probably would be wise to fill as many holes as possible via free agency to further enhance their ability to target the QB of their choice in the draft. Retaining Mack and maintaining a strong offensive line is logical, unless he gets an outrageous offer Cleveland shouldn’t match. Ward’s a nice player, but we’d pursue Bills FS Jairus Byrd — a better playmaker who already knows the defensive system of new coach Mike Pettine. If there’s money left for a young back, Ben Tate or Toby Gerhart are among the intriguing options. Rashad Jennings and Donald Brown are capable performers in the next tier. But a mid-round rookie also could be the way to go here.

The Steelers were 16-16 during the past two seasons and haven’t won a playoff game since losing Super Bowl XLV to end the 2010 postseason. Facing a tight cap for the second consecutive offseason, GM Kevin Colbert probably has little choice but to move on from several accomplished vets who have given the franchise so much but also were part of a 2013 defense that was the worst since coordinator Dick LeBeau returned to Pittsburgh in 2004.

• Our advice:

The offense should be in decent shape with C Maurkice Pouncey coming back from injury and Hall of Famer Mike Munchak joining the coaching staff to improve the O-line play. Colbert probably can’t afford to keep Sanders, but he ought to try to re-sign Cotchery (career-high 10 TDs in 2013) to give third-rounder Markus Wheaton more time to develop into a No. 2 option. It’d be nice to have Keisel, 35, back for another year depending on what kind of discount he’d take, but it’s probably time to give Clark’s job to youngster Shamarko Thomas. We’d release underperforming OLB LaMarr Woodley and plow the savings into a new deal for Worilds — although that also could mean saying goodbye to another veteran, maybe CB Ike Taylor.